New Town of Niagara cheerleaders group thriving

by jmaloni

Thu, Sep 27th 2012 06:15 pm

Members of the Town of Niagara Illusions Cheerleaders performed in August at Northgate Manor.

by Alex Muto

Jenny Vinson, head coach for Town of Niagara Illusions
Cheerleaders, recognized the challenges that would face her team as she and a
group of her students left the Wheatfield Cheerleaders and formed the Town of
Niagara Cheerleaders.

"Starting from scratch can be hard," says Vinson,
"especially as a first-year group running over (to a new town)."

However, the coaches' passion for cheerleading and the
students' dedication to their craft has made the process a "smooth transition."
The cheerleaders have already formed a strong bond and are more than prepared
for competition and to serve the community, she said.

Vinson, an accomplished cheerleader and coach, found great
success and created great memories with the Town of Wheatfield cheerleaders, but
decided the Town of Niagara needed a group as well.

"Last year, I coached with two of my friends, and we were
undefeated (in competitions) with the Town of Wheatfield," said Vinson.

Maura Graber, a parent of two Town of Niagara cheerleaders
and a co-coordinator for the new group, says that Vinson's success is
attributable to her kindness, dedication, and skill from her own history as a
cheerleader.

"She is one of those coaches who gives off an air of
confidence (together with) a loving nature, and the girls really like that.
She's genuinely nice, not fake. She also cheered for years, as an all-star, so
she has a lot of experience," Graber said.

Vinson and co-founder Tammy Belstadt began the
cheerleading team specifically for the Town of Niagara this past spring.

The new team, which is
split into two age-specific groups, practices twice a week and cheers at local
events, and will enter competitions this fall. The students practice on
Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Veterans Memorial Park on Lockport Road from
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The beginner's group is for girls ages 4 to 10 hoping to
become competition cheerleaders later on, and the competition group is for
older, more experienced students ages 11 to 14.

The girls have learned many routines
during practice - dance and cheer routines with stunts and tumbles for
competitions and stunts and tumbles for sports events.

Belstadt, who helps with costumes and
behind-the-scenes work, explains that the girls have completed community
service projects, and taken part in many local events and parades. The group
earned third-place honors in Canal Fest, an impressive accomplishment for such
a young group. The group has already contributed to the community as well, with
maturity beyond their years, according to Belstadt. On Aug. 19, the girls did
community service at the Northgate Manor nursing home in Wheatfield.

"The girls talked with the residents, kept
them company, and performed. The girls were so grown up throughout the whole
thing!" Belstadt said.

The group recently competed at the
Lewiston Kiwanis Peach Festival and plans to complete more local service in the
near future, as well as perform at Town of Niagara events.

Although fostering teamwork in a new group
can be difficult, Vinson, Bell and Graber recognize that the student's kindness
and friendship has not only eased the difficulty of transition, but allowed the
group dynamic to thrive.

"Many girls followed me over (from the
Wheatfield group), and parents and girls have been more than on board to help
me out," said Vinson. "The participants have been practicing their routines,
and doing bonding parties at each others' houses all the time. It's like a family!"

Jordan Graber, 11, Maura's daughter,
participates in the competition team and has only great things to say about the
group. "I really have (enjoyed the new team). Jen is an awesome coach," Jordan
said. "I have really liked meeting new people that have joined, and making new
friends."

In her three years of cheerleading
experience, Jordan feels she has never been part of a more talented, unified
group.

Belstadt is confident that the girls will
succeed in competitions. "Our goal is to travel to nationals out in Myrtle
Beach in March," she said.

The non-profit group is still seeking sponsors. For more
information on the Illusions, contact Vinson at 716-990-1983.